ALFIE DARTS IN TO BAG IN THE MUD LATE WINNER
ALFIE PAVEY scored in the final seconds to earn Dartford a crucial win over Hampton & Richmond Borough in farcical weather conditions at Princes Park.
A delighted Tony Burman felt Dartford did enough to earn the win: “The pitch did make the difference. You had to play a certain way.
“I thought we deserved to get a result. I am delighted we have come away with three points.”
Referee Josh Smith twice stopped play to assess the conditions as questions had to be asked as to whether the game should have been played to completion, particularly during a treacherous second half.
Both sides struggled to capitalise on breakaways as the conditions underfoot hampered passing.
The visitors registered the first shot of the game when Max Kretzschmar headed straight at Bertie Schotterl on 15 minutes.
The Darts pushed forward with Alex Brown firing an effort wide on 21 minutes after the throughball caught the Beavers’ defence cold.
Captain Elliot Bradbrook then nodded a Lee Noble cross wide as the hosts started to take control.
Kretzschmar had another opportunity to score on 29 minutes, but his goalbound effort was blocked well by Ronnie Vint as the visitors pushed back. Bradley Hudson-Odoi then had a great chance to put Hampton ahead three minutes later, but he miscued and put it wide.
Shaun Jeffers headed wide two minutes later, putting the Darts’ defence under scrutiny as the rain continued to pour down.
Dartford started the second half brightly with top scorer Pavey scuffing a shot wide.
Andy Pugh almost put Darts ahead on 67 minutes, sending an effort over after an impressive throughball from Noble given the conditions.
Pavey then headed over three minutes later as Dartford contin- ued to have success with crosses against the Beavers’ back four.
And they went close again when Sub Tom Murphy crossed for Bradbrook whose header was palmed over by Seny Dieng.
Christian Jolley then fired straight at Schotterl as both sides waded through the mud to try and earn all three points.
Mark Onyemah had a chance to win it late on, but he headed Noble’s header over.
Then in injury time, Bradbrook nodded through for Pavey who fired home to cue wild celebrations.